Systems and Methods for Interfacing with Ad Networks

ABSTRACT

A system and method including a mobile phone device and a mobile app, in which said mobile app comprises an unlocking module, an ad menu module, and point processing module stored in said computer readable storage medium, wherein said mobile app includes instructions which when executed by said mobile phone device, cause the mobile phone device to: process a waking up or powering up of said mobile device by said unlocking module; keep track of a user&#39;s point total by said point processing module; and process a graphic user interface to present a set of menu items in a lock screen by said ad menu module;

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

RELATED CO-PENDING U.S. PATENT APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF SEQUENCE LISTING PROVIDED AS A TEXT FILE

Not applicable.

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER LISTING APPENDIX

Not applicable.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialthat is subject to copyright protection by the author thereof. Thecopyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyoneof the patent document or patent disclosure for the purposes ofreferencing as patent prior art, as it appears in the Patent andTrademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves allcopyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE RELEVANT PRIOR ART

One or more embodiments of the invention generally relate toadvertising. More particularly, certain embodiments of the inventionrelate to advertising on mobile devices.

The following background information may present examples of specificaspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts,or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educatethe reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to beconstrued as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof,to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.

The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that,while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as toadditional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limitingthe present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated orimplied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background,an aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that whenplacing ads on phones it is commonly difficult to get a user to sitthrough an ad. Ads on mobile devices are often skipped or avoided asmuch as possible by users, therefore ad agencies are finding ways to tryto shorten ads to 5 seconds or force users to sit through longer ads. Asdata becomes more expensive for users, ads also need to mind a user'sdata plan and make sure their long ads are not draining user's dataunnecessarily and likely resulting in the ad being closed. Furthermore,users are usually not incentivized to watch ads beyond being able towatch a video afterwards.

In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniquesare not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings and in whichlike reference numerals refer to similar elements and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary lock screen where an improved mobile admay appear, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software system modulesdiagram, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary client/server systemwhich may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram depicting a conventionalclient/server communication system, which may be used by an exemplaryweb-enabled/networked embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate exemplary GUIs during mobile ad relatedprocessing, where 6A shows lock screen interfacing, 6B shows settingsmenu interfacing, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary system and networkwhich may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment ofthe present invention.

Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is best understood by reference to the detailedfigures and description set forth herein.

Embodiments of the invention are discussed below with reference to theFigures. However, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate thatthe detailed description given herein with respect to these figures isfor explanatory purposes as the invention extends beyond these limitedembodiments. For example, it should be appreciated that those skilled inthe art will, in light of the teachings of the present invention,recognize a multiplicity of alternate and suitable approaches, dependingupon the needs of the particular application, to implement thefunctionality of any given detail described herein, beyond theparticular implementation choices in the following embodiments describedand shown. That is, there are modifications and variations of theinvention that are too numerous to be listed but that all fit within thescope of the invention. Also, singular words should be read as pluraland vice versa and masculine as feminine and vice versa, whereappropriate, and alternative embodiments do not necessarily imply thatthe two are mutually exclusive.

It is to be further understood that the present invention is not limitedto the particular methodology, compounds, materials, manufacturingtechniques, uses, and applications, described herein, as these may vary.It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is used forthe purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is notintended to limit the scope of the present invention. It must be notedthat as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms “a,”“an,” and “the” include the plural reference unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Thus, for example, a reference to “an element” is areference to one or more elements and includes equivalents thereof knownto those skilled in the art. Similarly, for another example, a referenceto “a step” or “a means” is a reference to one or more steps or meansand may include sub-steps and subservient means. All conjunctions usedare to be understood in the most inclusive sense possible. Thus, theword “or” should be understood as having the definition of a logical“or” rather than that of a logical “exclusive or” unless the contextclearly necessitates otherwise. Structures described herein are to beunderstood also to refer to functional equivalents of such structures.Language that may be construed to express approximation should be sounderstood unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

All words of approximation as used in the present disclosure and claimsshould be construed to mean “approximate,” rather than “perfect,” andmay accordingly be employed as a meaningful modifier to any other word,specified parameter, quantity, quality, or concept. Words ofapproximation, include, yet are not limited to terms such as“substantial”, “nearly”, “almost”, “about”, “generally”, “largely”,“essentially”, “closely approximate”, etc.

As will be established in some detail below, it is well settled law, asearly as 1939, that words of approximation are not indefinite in theclaims even when such limits are not defined or specified in thespecification.

For example, see Ex parte Mallory, 52 USPQ 297, 297 (Pat. Off. Bd. App.1941) where the court said “The examiner has held that most of theclaims are inaccurate because apparently the laminar film will not beentirely eliminated. The claims specify that the film is “substantially”eliminated and for the intended purpose, it is believed that the slightportion of the film which may remain is negligible. We are of the view,therefore, that the claims may be regarded as sufficiently accurate.”

Note that claims need only “reasonably apprise those skilled in the art”as to their scope to satisfy the definiteness requirement. See EnergyAbsorption Sys., Inc. v. Roadway Safety Servs., Inc., Civ. App. 96-1264,slip op. at 10 (Fed. Cir. Jul. 3, 1997) (unpublished) Hybridtech v.Monoclonal Antibodies, Inc., 802 F.2d 1367, 1385, 231 USPQ 81, 94 (Fed.Cir. 1986), cert. denied, 480 U.S. 947 (1987). In addition, the use ofmodifiers in the claim, like “generally” and “substantial,” does not byitself render the claims indefinite. See Seattle Box Co. v. IndustrialCrating & Packing, Inc., 731 F.2d 818, 828-29, 221 USPQ 568, 575-76(Fed. Cir. 1984).

Moreover, the ordinary and customary meaning of terms like“substantially” includes “reasonably close to: nearly, almost, about”,connoting a term of approximation. See In re Frye, Appeal No.2009-006013, 94 USPQ2d 1072, 1077, 2010 WL 889747 (B.P.A.I. 2010)Depending on its usage, the word “substantially” can denote eitherlanguage of approximation or language of magnitude. Deering PrecisionInstruments, L.L.C. v. Vector Distribution Sys., Inc., 347 F.3d 1314,1323 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (recognizing the “dual ordinary meaning of th[e]term [“substantially”] as connoting a term of approximation or a term ofmagnitude”). Here, when referring to the “substantially halfway”limitation, the Specification uses the word “approximately” as asubstitute for the word “substantially” (Fact 4). (Fact 4). The ordinarymeaning of “substantially halfway” is thus reasonably close to or nearlyat the midpoint between the forwardmost point of the upper or outsoleand the rearwardmost point of the upper or outsole.

Similarly, the term ‘substantially’ is well recognize in case law tohave the dual ordinary meaning of connoting a term of approximation or aterm of magnitude. See Dana Corp. v. American Axle & Manufacturing,Inc., Civ. App. 04-1116, 2004 U.S. App. LEXIS 18265, *13-14 (Fed. Cir.Aug. 27, 2004) (unpublished). The term “substantially” is commonly usedby claim drafters to indicate approximation. See Cordis Corp. v.Medtronic AVE Inc., 339 F.3d 1352, 1360 (Fed. Cir. 2003) (“The patentsdo not set out any numerical standard by which to determine whether thethickness of the wall surface is ‘substantially uniform.’ The term‘substantially,’ as used in this context, denotes approximation. Thus,the walls must be of largely or approximately uniform thickness.”); seealso Deering Precision Instruments, LLC v. Vector Distribution Sys.,Inc., 347 F.3d 1314, 1322 (Fed. Cir. 2003); Epcon Gas Sys., Inc. v.Bauer Compressors, Inc., 279 F.3d 1022, 1031 (Fed. Cir. 2002). We findthat the term “substantially” was used in just such a manner in theclaims of the patents-in-suit: “substantially uniform wall thickness”denotes a wall thickness with approximate uniformity.

It should also be noted that such words of approximation as contemplatedin the foregoing clearly limits the scope of claims such as saying‘generally parallel’ such that the adverb ‘generally’ does not broadenthe meaning of parallel. Accordingly, it is well settled that such wordsof approximation as contemplated in the foregoing (e.g., like the phrase‘generally parallel’) envisions some amount of deviation from perfection(e.g., not exactly parallel), and that such words of approximation ascontemplated in the foregoing are descriptive terms commonly used inpatent claims to avoid a strict numerical boundary to the specifiedparameter. To the extent that the plain language of the claims relyingon such words of approximation as contemplated in the foregoing areclear and uncontradicted by anything in the written description hereinor the figures thereof, it is improper to rely upon the present writtendescription, the figures, or the prosecution history to add limitationsto any of the claim of the present invention with respect to such wordsof approximation as contemplated in the foregoing. That is, under suchcircumstances, relying on the written description and prosecutionhistory to reject the ordinary and customary meanings of the wordsthemselves is impermissible. See, for example, Liquid Dynamics Corp. v.Vaughan Co., 355 F.3d 1361, 69 USPQ2d 1595, 1600-01 (Fed. Cir. 2004).The plain language of phrase 2 requires a “substantial helical flow.”The term “substantial” is a meaningful modifier implying “approximate,”rather than “perfect.” In Cordis Corp. v. Medtronic AVE, Inc., 339 F.3d1352, 1361 (Fed. Cir. 2003), the district court imposed a precisenumeric constraint on the term “substantially uniform thickness.” Wenoted that the proper interpretation of this term was “of largely orapproximately uniform thickness” unless something in the prosecutionhistory imposed the “clear and unmistakable disclaimer” needed fornarrowing beyond this simple-language interpretation. Id. In Anchor WallSystems v. Rockwood Retaining Walls, Inc., 340 F.3d 1298, 1311 (Fed.Cir. 2003)” Id. at 1311. Similarly, the plain language of claim 1requires neither a perfectly helical flow nor a flow that returnsprecisely to the center after one rotation (a limitation that arisesonly as a logical consequence of requiring a perfectly helical flow).

The reader should appreciate that case law generally recognizes a dualordinary meaning of such words of approximation, as contemplated in theforegoing, as connoting a term of approximation or a term of magnitude;e.g., see Deering Precision Instruments, L.L.C. v. Vector Distrib. Sys.,Inc., 347 F.3d 1314, 68 USPQ2d 1716, 1721 (Fed. Cir. 2003), cert.denied, 124 S. Ct. 1426 (2004) where the court was asked to construe themeaning of the term “substantially” in a patent claim. Also see Epcon,279 F.3d at 1031 (“The phrase ‘substantially constant’ denotes languageof approximation, while the phrase ‘substantially below’ signifieslanguage of magnitude, i.e., not insubstantial.”). Also, see, e.g.,Epcon Gas Sys., Inc. v. Bauer Compressors, Inc., 279 F.3d 1022 (Fed.Cir. 2002) (construing the terms “substantially constant” and“substantially below”); Zodiac Pool Care, Inc. v. Hoffinger Indus.,Inc., 206 F.3d 1408 (Fed. Cir. 2000) (construing the term “substantiallyinward”); York Prods., Inc. v. Cent. Tractor Farm & Family Ctr., 99 F.3d1568 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (construing the term “substantially the entireheight thereof”); Tex. Instruments Inc. v. Cypress Semiconductor Corp.,90 F.3d 1558 (Fed. Cir. 1996) (construing the term “substantially in thecommon plane”). In conducting their analysis, the court instructed tobegin with the ordinary meaning of the claim terms to one of ordinaryskill in the art. Prima Tek, 318 F.3d at 1148. Reference to dictionariesand our cases indicates that the term “substantially” has numerousordinary meanings. As the district court stated, “substantially” canmean “significantly” or “considerably.” The term “substantially” canalso mean “largely” or “essentially.” Webster's New 20th CenturyDictionary 1817 (1983).

Words of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, may also beused in phrases establishing approximate ranges or limits, where the endpoints are inclusive and approximate, not perfect; e.g., see AK SteelCorp. v. Sollac, 344 F.3d 1234, 68 USPQ2d 1280, 1285 (Fed. Cir. 2003)where it where the court said [W]e conclude that the ordinary meaning ofthe phrase “up to about 10%” includes the “about 10%” endpoint. Aspointed out by AK Steel, when an object of the preposition “up to” isnonnumeric, the most natural meaning is to exclude the object (e.g.,painting the wall up to the door). On the other hand, as pointed out bySollac, when the object is a numerical limit, the normal meaning is toinclude that upper numerical limit (e.g., counting up to ten, seatingcapacity for up to seven passengers). Because we have here a numericallimit—“about 10%”—the ordinary meaning is that that endpoint isincluded.

In the present specification and claims, a goal of employment of suchwords of approximation, as contemplated in the foregoing, is to avoid astrict numerical boundary to the modified specified parameter, assanctioned by Pall Corp. v. Micron Separations, Inc., 66 F.3d 1211,1217, 36 USPQ2d 1225, 1229 (Fed. Cir. 1995) where it states “It is wellestablished that when the term “substantially” serves reasonably todescribe the subject matter so that its scope would be understood bypersons in the field of the invention, and to distinguish the claimedsubject matter from the prior art, it is not indefinite.” Likewise seeVerve LLC v. Crane Cams Inc., 311 F.3d 1116, 65 USPQ2d 1051, 1054 (Fed.Cir. 2002). Expressions such as “substantially” are used in patentdocuments when warranted by the nature of the invention, in order toaccommodate the minor variations that may be appropriate to secure theinvention. Such usage may well satisfy the charge to “particularly pointout and distinctly claim” the invention, 35 U.S.C. § 112, and indeed maybe necessary in order to provide the inventor with the benefit of hisinvention. In Andrew Corp. v. Gabriel Elecs. Inc., 847 F.2d 819, 821-22,6 USPQ2d 2010, 2013 (Fed. Cir. 1988) the court explained that usagessuch as “substantially equal” and “closely approximate” may serve todescribe the invention with precision appropriate to the technology andwithout intruding on the prior art. The court again explained in EcolabInc. v. Envirochem, Inc., 264 F.3d 1358, 1367, 60 USPQ2d 1173, 1179(Fed. Cir. 2001) that “like the term ‘about,’ the term ‘substantially’is a descriptive term commonly used in patent claims to ‘avoid a strictnumerical boundary to the specified parameter, see Ecolab Inc. v.Envirochem Inc., 264 F.3d 1358, 60 USPQ2d 1173, 1179 (Fed. Cir. 2001)where the court found that the use of the term “substantially” to modifythe term “uniform” does not render this phrase so unclear such thatthere is no means by which to ascertain the claim scope.

Similarly, other courts have noted that like the term “about,” the term“substantially” is a descriptive term commonly used in patent claims to“avoid a strict numerical boundary to the specified parameter.”; e.g.,see Pall Corp. v. Micron Seps., 66 F.3d 1211, 1217, 36 USPQ2d 1225, 1229(Fed. Cir. 1995); see, e.g., Andrew Corp. v. Gabriel Elecs. Inc., 847F.2d 819, 821-22, 6 USPQ2d 2010, 2013 (Fed. Cir. 1988) (noting thatterms such as “approach each other,” “close to,” “substantially equal,”and “closely approximate” are ubiquitously used in patent claims andthat such usages, when serving reasonably to describe the claimedsubject matter to those of skill in the field of the invention, and todistinguish the claimed subject matter from the prior art, have beenaccepted in patent examination and upheld by the courts). In this case,“substantially” avoids the strict 100% nonuniformity boundary.

Indeed, the foregoing sanctioning of such words of approximation, ascontemplated in the foregoing, has been established as early as 1939,see Ex parte Mallory, 52 USPQ 297, 297 (Pat. Off. Bd. App. 1941) where,for example, the court said “the claims specify that the film is“substantially” eliminated and for the intended purpose, it is believedthat the slight portion of the film which may remain is negligible. Weare of the view, therefore, that the claims may be regarded assufficiently accurate.” Similarly, In re Hutchison, 104 F.2d 829, 42USPQ 90, 93 (C.C.P.A. 1939) the court said “It is realized that“substantial distance” is a relative and somewhat indefinite term, orphrase, but terms and phrases of this character are not uncommon inpatents in cases where, according to the art involved, the meaning canbe determined with reasonable clearness.”

Hence, for at least the forgoing reason, Applicants submit that it isimproper for any examiner to hold as indefinite any claims of thepresent patent that employ any words of approximation.

Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used hereinhave the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skillin the art to which this invention belongs. Preferred methods,techniques, devices, and materials are described, although any methods,techniques, devices, or materials similar or equivalent to thosedescribed herein may be used in the practice or testing of the presentinvention. Structures described herein are to be understood also torefer to functional equivalents of such structures. The presentinvention will be described in detail below with reference toembodiments thereof as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

References to a “device,” an “apparatus,” a “system,” etc., in thepreamble of a claim should be construed broadly to mean “any structuremeeting the claim terms” exempt for any specific structure(s)/type(s)that has/(have) been explicitly disavowed or excluded oradmitted/implied as prior art in the present specification or incapableof enabling an object/aspect/goal of the invention. Furthermore, wherethe present specification discloses an object, aspect, function, goal,result, or advantage of the invention that a specific prior artstructure and/or method step is similarly capable of performing yet in avery different way, the present invention disclosure is intended to andshall also implicitly include and cover additional correspondingalternative embodiments that are otherwise identical to that explicitlydisclosed except that they exclude such prior art structure(s)/step(s),and shall accordingly be deemed as providing sufficient disclosure tosupport a corresponding negative limitation in a claim claiming suchalternative embodiment(s), which exclude such very different prior artstructure(s)/step(s) way(s).

From reading the present disclosure, other variations and modificationswill be apparent to persons skilled in the art. Such variations andmodifications may involve equivalent and other features which arealready known in the art, and which may be used instead of or inaddition to features already described herein.

Although Claims have been formulated in this Application to particularcombinations of features, it should be understood that the scope of thedisclosure of the present invention also includes any novel feature orany novel combination of features disclosed herein either explicitly orimplicitly or any generalization thereof, whether or not it relates tothe same invention as presently claimed in any Claim and whether or notit mitigates any or all of the same technical problems as does thepresent invention.

Features which are described in the context of separate embodiments mayalso be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely,various features which are, for brevity, described in the context of asingle embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitablesub-combination. The Applicants hereby give notice that new Claims maybe formulated to such features and/or combinations of such featuresduring the prosecution of the present Application or of any furtherApplication derived therefrom.

References to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” “example embodiment,”“various embodiments,” “some embodiments,” “embodiments of theinvention,” etc., may indicate that the embodiment(s) of the inventionso described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every possible embodiment of the inventionnecessarily includes the particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic. Further, repeated use of the phrase “in one embodiment,”or “in an exemplary embodiment,” “an embodiment,” do not necessarilyrefer to the same embodiment, although they may. Moreover, any use ofphrases like “embodiments” in connection with “the invention” are nevermeant to characterize that all embodiments of the invention must includethe particular feature, structure, or characteristic, and should insteadbe understood to mean “at least some embodiments of the invention”include the stated particular feature, structure, or characteristic.

References to “user”, or any similar term, as used herein, may mean ahuman or non-human user thereof. Moreover, “user”, or any similar term,as used herein, unless expressly stipulated otherwise, is contemplatedto mean users at any stage of the usage process, to include, withoutlimitation, direct user(s), intermediate user(s), indirect user(s), andend user(s). The meaning of “user”, or any similar term, as used herein,should not be otherwise inferred or induced by any pattern(s) ofdescription, embodiments, examples, or referenced prior-art that may (ormay not) be provided in the present patent.

References to “end user”, or any similar term, as used herein, isgenerally intended to mean late stage user(s) as opposed to early stageuser(s). Hence, it is contemplated that there may be a multiplicity ofdifferent types of “end user” near the end stage of the usage process.Where applicable, especially with respect to distribution channels ofembodiments of the invention comprising consumed retailproducts/services thereof (as opposed to sellers/vendors or OriginalEquipment Manufacturers), examples of an “end user” may include, withoutlimitation, a “consumer”, “buyer”, “customer”, “purchaser”, “shopper”,“enjoyer”, “viewer”, or individual person or non-human thing benefitingin any way, directly or indirectly, from use of or interaction, withsome aspect of the present invention.

In some situations, some embodiments of the present invention mayprovide beneficial usage to more than one stage or type of usage in theforegoing usage process. In such cases where multiple embodimentstargeting various stages of the usage process are described, referencesto “end user”, or any similar term, as used therein, are generallyintended to not include the user that is the furthest removed, in theforegoing usage process, from the final user therein of an embodiment ofthe present invention.

Where applicable, especially with respect to retail distributionchannels of embodiments of the invention, intermediate user(s) mayinclude, without limitation, any individual person or non-human thingbenefiting in any way, directly or indirectly, from use of, orinteraction with, some aspect of the present invention with respect toselling, vending, Original Equipment Manufacturing, marketing,merchandising, distributing, service providing, and the like thereof.

References to “person”, “individual”, “human”, “a party”, “animal”,“creature”, or any similar term, as used herein, even if the context orparticular embodiment implies living user, maker, or participant, itshould be understood that such characterizations are sole by way ofexample, and not limitation, in that it is contemplated that any suchusage, making, or participation by a living entity in connection withmaking, using, and/or participating, in any way, with embodiments of thepresent invention may be substituted by such similar performed by asuitably configured non-living entity, to include, without limitation,automated machines, robots, humanoids, computational systems,information processing systems, artificially intelligent systems, andthe like. It is further contemplated that those skilled in the art willreadily recognize the practical situations where such living makers,users, and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention maybe in whole, or in part, replaced with such non-living makers, users,and/or participants with embodiments of the present invention. Likewise,when those skilled in the art identify such practical situations wheresuch living makers, users, and/or participants with embodiments of thepresent invention may be in whole, or in part, replaced with suchnon-living makers, it will be readily apparent in light of the teachingsof the present invention how to adapt the described embodiments to besuitable for such non-living makers, users, and/or participants withembodiments of the present invention. Thus, the invention is thus toalso cover all such modifications, equivalents, and alternatives fallingwithin the spirit and scope of such adaptations and modifications, atleast in part, for such non-living entities.

Headings provided herein are for convenience and are not to be taken aslimiting the disclosure in any way.

The enumerated listing of items does not imply that any or all of theitems are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise.

It is understood that the use of specific component, device and/orparameter names are for example only and not meant to imply anylimitations on the invention. The invention may thus be implemented withdifferent nomenclature/terminology utilized to describe themechanisms/units/structures/components/devices/parameters herein,without limitation. Each term utilized herein is to be given itsbroadest interpretation given the context in which that term isutilized.

Terminology. The following paragraphs provide definitions and/or contextfor terms found in this disclosure (including the appended claims):

“Comprising.” This term is open-ended. As used in the appended claims,this term does not foreclose additional structure or steps. Consider aclaim that recites: “A memory controller comprising a system cache . . ..” Such a claim does not foreclose the memory controller from includingadditional components (e.g., a memory channel unit, a switch).

“Configured To.” Various units, circuits, or other components may bedescribed or claimed as “configured to” perform a task or tasks. In suchcontexts, “configured to” or “operable for” is used to connote structureby indicating that the mechanisms/units/circuits/components includestructure (e.g., circuitry and/or mechanisms) that performs the task ortasks during operation. As such, the mechanisms/unit/circuit/componentcan be said to be configured to (or be operable) for perform(ing) thetask even when the specified mechanisms/unit/circuit/component is notcurrently operational (e.g., is not on). Themechanisms/units/circuits/components used with the “configured to” or“operable for” language include hardware—for example, mechanisms,structures, electronics, circuits, memory storing program instructionsexecutable to implement the operation, etc. Reciting that amechanism/unit/circuit/component is “configured to” or “operable for”perform(ing) one or more tasks is expressly intended not to invoke 35U.S.C. .sctn.112, sixth paragraph, for thatmechanism/unit/circuit/component. “Configured to” may also includeadapting a manufacturing process to fabricate devices or components thatare adapted to implement or perform one or more tasks.

“Based On.” As used herein, this term is used to describe one or morefactors that affect a determination. This term does not forecloseadditional factors that may affect a determination. That is, adetermination may be solely based on those factors or based, at least inpart, on those factors. Consider the phrase “determine A based on B.”While B may be a factor that affects the determination of A, such aphrase does not foreclose the determination of A from also being basedon C. In other instances, A may be determined based solely on B.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expresslyspecified otherwise.

Unless otherwise indicated, all numbers expressing conditions,concentrations, dimensions, and so forth used in the specification andclaims are to be understood as being modified in all instances by theterm “about.” Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary, thenumerical parameters set forth in the following specification andattached claims are approximations that may vary depending at least upona specific analytical technique.

The term “comprising,” which is synonymous with “including,”“containing,” or “characterized by” is inclusive or open-ended and doesnot exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. “Comprising”is a term of art used in claim language which means that the named claimelements are essential, but other claim elements may be added and stillform a construct within the scope of the claim.

As used herein, the phase “consisting of” excludes any element, step, oringredient not specified in the claim. When the phrase “consists of” (orvariations thereof) appears in a clause of the body of a claim, ratherthan immediately following the preamble, it limits only the element setforth in that clause; other elements are not excluded from the claim asa whole. As used herein, the phase “consisting essentially of” and“consisting of” limits the scope of a claim to the specified elements ormethod steps, plus those that do not materially affect the basis andnovel characteristic(s) of the claimed subject matter (see Norian Corp.v Stryker Corp., 363 F.3d 1321, 1331-32, 70 USPQ2d 1508, Fed. Cir.2004). Moreover, for any claim of the present invention which claims anembodiment “consisting essentially of” or “consisting of” a certain setof elements of any herein described embodiment it shall be understood asobvious by those skilled in the art that the present invention alsocovers all possible varying scope variants of any describedembodiment(s) that are each exclusively (i.e., “consisting essentiallyof”) functional subsets or functional combination thereof such that eachof these plurality of exclusive varying scope variants each consistsessentially of any functional subset(s) and/or functional combination(s)of any set of elements of any described embodiment(s) to the exclusionof any others not set forth therein. That is, it is contemplated that itwill be obvious to those skilled how to create a multiplicity ofalternate embodiments of the present invention that simply consistingessentially of a certain functional combination of elements of anydescribed embodiment(s) to the exclusion of any others not set forththerein, and the invention thus covers all such exclusive embodiments asif they were each described herein.

With respect to the terms “comprising,” “consisting of,” and “consistingessentially of,” where one of these three terms is used herein, thedisclosed and claimed subject matter may include the use of either ofthe other two terms. Thus in some embodiments not otherwise explicitlyrecited, any instance of “comprising” may be replaced by “consisting of”or, alternatively, by “consisting essentially of”, and thus, for thepurposes of claim support and construction for “consisting of” formatclaims, such replacements operate to create yet other alternativeembodiments “consisting essentially of” only the elements recited in theoriginal “comprising” embodiment to the exclusion of all other elements.

Moreover, any claim limitation phrased in functional limitation termscovered by 35 USC § 112(6) (post AIA 112(f)) which has a preambleinvoking the closed terms “consisting of,” or “consisting essentiallyof,” should be understood to mean that the corresponding structure(s)disclosed herein define the exact metes and bounds of what the soclaimed invention embodiment(s) consists of, or consisting essentiallyof, to the exclusion of any other elements which do not materiallyaffect the intended purpose of the so claimed embodiment(s).

Devices or system modules that are in at least general communicationwith each other need not be in continuous communication with each other,unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices or systemmodules that are in at least general communication with each other maycommunicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries.Moreover, it is understood that any system components described or namedin any embodiment or claimed herein may be grouped or sub-grouped (andaccordingly implicitly renamed) in any combination or sub-combination asthose skilled in the art can imagine as suitable for the particularapplication, and still be within the scope and spirit of the claimedembodiments of the present invention. For an example of what this means,if the invention was a controller of a motor and a valve and theembodiments and claims articulated those components as being separatelygrouped and connected, applying the foregoing would mean that such aninvention and claims would also implicitly cover the valve being groupedinside the motor and the controller being a remote controller with nodirect physical connection to the motor or internalized valve, as suchthe claimed invention is contemplated to cover all ways of groupingand/or adding of intermediate components or systems that stillsubstantially achieve the intended result of the invention.

A description of an embodiment with several components in communicationwith each other does not imply that all such components are required. Onthe contrary a variety of optional components are described toillustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the presentinvention.

As is well known to those skilled in the art many careful considerationsand compromises typically must be made when designing for the optimalmanufacture of a commercial implementation any system, and inparticular, the embodiments of the present invention. A commercialimplementation in accordance with the spirit and teachings of thepresent invention may configured according to the needs of theparticular application, whereby any aspect(s), feature(s), function(s),result(s), component(s), approach(es), or step(s) of the teachingsrelated to any described embodiment of the present invention may besuitably omitted, included, adapted, mixed and matched, or improvedand/or optimized by those skilled in the art, using their average skillsand known techniques, to achieve the desired implementation thataddresses the needs of the particular application.

In the following description and claims, the terms “coupled” and“connected,” along with their derivatives, may be used. It should beunderstood that these terms are not intended as synonyms for each other.Rather, in particular embodiments, “connected” may be used to indicatethat two or more elements are in direct physical or electrical contactwith each other. “Coupled” may mean that two or more elements are indirect physical or electrical contact. However, “coupled” may also meanthat two or more elements are not in direct contact with each other, butyet still cooperate or interact with each other.

A “computer” may refer to one or more apparatus and/or one or moresystems that are capable of accepting a structured input, processing thestructured input according to prescribed rules, and producing results ofthe processing as output. Examples of a computer may include: acomputer; a stationary and/or portable computer; a computer having asingle processor, multiple processors, or multi-core processors, whichmay operate in parallel and/or not in parallel; a general purposecomputer; a supercomputer; a mainframe; a super mini-computer; amini-computer; a workstation; a micro-computer; a server; a client; aninteractive television; a web appliance; a telecommunications devicewith internet access; a hybrid combination of a computer and aninteractive television; a portable computer; a tablet personal computer(PC); a personal digital assistant (PDA); a portable telephone;application-specific hardware to emulate a computer and/or software,such as, for example, a digital signal processor (DSP), afield-programmable gate array (FPGA), an application specific integratedcircuit (ASIC), an application specific instruction-set processor(ASIP), a chip, chips, a system on a chip, or a chip set; a dataacquisition device; an optical computer; a quantum computer; abiological computer; and generally, an apparatus that may accept data,process data according to one or more stored software programs, generateresults, and typically include input, output, storage, arithmetic,logic, and control units.

Those of skill in the art will appreciate that where appropriate, someembodiments of the disclosure may be practiced in network computingenvironments with many types of computer system configurations,including personal computers, hand-held devices, multi-processorsystems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumer electronics,network PCs, minicomputers, mainframe computers, and the like. Whereappropriate, embodiments may also be practiced in distributed computingenvironments where tasks are performed by local and remote processingdevices that are linked (either by hardwired links, wireless links, orby a combination thereof) through a communications network. In adistributed computing environment, program modules may be located inboth local and remote memory storage devices.

“Software” may refer to prescribed rules to operate a computer. Examplesof software may include: code segments in one or more computer-readablelanguages; graphical and or/textual instructions; applets; pre-compiledcode; interpreted code; compiled code; and computer programs.

The example embodiments described herein can be implemented in anoperating environment comprising computer-executable instructions (e.g.,software) installed on a computer, in hardware, or in a combination ofsoftware and hardware. The computer-executable instructions can bewritten in a computer programming language or can be embodied infirmware logic. If written in a programming language conforming to arecognized standard, such instructions can be executed on a variety ofhardware platforms and for interfaces to a variety of operating systems.Although not limited thereto, computer software program code forcarrying out operations for aspects of the present invention can bewritten in any combination of one or more suitable programminglanguages, including an object oriented programming languages and/orconventional procedural programming languages, and/or programminglanguages such as, for example, Hyper text Markup Language (HTML),Dynamic HTML, Extensible Markup Language (XML), Extensible StylesheetLanguage (XSL), Document Style Semantics and Specification Language(DSSSL), Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Synchronized MultimediaIntegration Language (SMIL), Wireless Markup Language (WML), Java™,Jini™, C, C++, Smalltalk, Perl, UNIX Shell, Visual Basic or Visual BasicScript, Virtual Reality Markup Language (VRML), ColdFusion™ or othercompilers, assemblers, interpreters or other computer languages orplatforms.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of thepresent invention may be written in any combination of one or moreprogramming languages, including an object oriented programming languagesuch as Java, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer, partly on the user's computer, as a stand-alonesoftware package, partly on the user's computer and partly on a remotecomputer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latterscenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user's computerthrough any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or awide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an externalcomputer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet ServiceProvider).

A network is a collection of links and nodes (e.g., multiple computersand/or other devices connected together) arranged so that informationmay be passed from one part of the network to another over multiplelinks and through various nodes. Examples of networks include theInternet, the public switched telephone network, the global Telexnetwork, computer networks (e.g., an intranet, an extranet, a local-areanetwork, or a wide-area network), wired networks, and wireless networks.

The Internet is a worldwide network of computers and computer networksarranged to allow the easy and robust exchange of information betweencomputer users. Hundreds of millions of people around the world haveaccess to computers connected to the Internet via Internet ServiceProviders (ISPs). Content providers (e.g., website owners or operators)place multimedia information (e.g., text, graphics, audio, video,animation, and other forms of data) at specific locations on theInternet referred to as webpages. Websites comprise a collection ofconnected, or otherwise related, webpages. The combination of all thewebsites and their corresponding webpages on the Internet is generallyknown as the World Wide Web (WWW) or simply the Web.

Aspects of the present invention are described below with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

The flowchart and block diagrams in the figures illustrate thearchitecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementationsof systems, methods and computer program products according to variousembodiments. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or blockdiagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of code, whichcomprises one or more executable instructions for implementing thespecified logical function(s). It should also be noted that, in somealternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occurout of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown insuccession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or theblocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending uponthe functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the likemay be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods andalgorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In otherwords, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does notnecessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in thatorder. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in anyorder practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.

It will be readily apparent that the various methods and algorithmsdescribed herein may be implemented by, e.g., appropriately programmedgeneral purpose computers and computing devices. Typically a processor(e.g., a microprocessor) will receive instructions from a memory or likedevice, and execute those instructions, thereby performing a processdefined by those instructions. Further, programs that implement suchmethods and algorithms may be stored and transmitted using a variety ofknown media.

When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readilyapparent that more than one device/article (whether or not theycooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly,where more than one device or article is described herein (whether ornot they cooperate), it will be readily apparent that a singledevice/article may be used in place of the more than one device orarticle.

The functionality and/or the features of a device may be alternativelyembodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly describedas having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments of thepresent invention need not include the device itself.

The term “computer-readable medium” as used herein refers to any mediumthat participates in providing data (e.g., instructions) which may beread by a computer, a processor or a like device. Such a medium may takemany forms, including but not limited to, non-volatile media, volatilemedia, and transmission media. Non-volatile media include, for example,optical or magnetic disks and other persistent memory. Volatile mediainclude dynamic random access memory (DRAM), which typically constitutesthe main memory. Transmission media include coaxial cables, copper wireand fiber optics, including the wires that comprise a system bus coupledto the processor. Transmission media may include or convey acousticwaves, light waves and electromagnetic emissions, such as thosegenerated during radio frequency (RF) and infrared (IR) datacommunications. Common forms of computer-readable media include, forexample, a floppy disk, a flexible disk, hard disk, magnetic tape, anyother magnetic medium, a CD-ROM, DVD, any other optical medium, punchcards, paper tape, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, aRAM, a PROM, an EPROM, a FLASH-EEPROM, removable media, flash memory, a“memory stick”, any other memory chip or cartridge, a carrier wave asdescribed hereinafter, or any other medium from which a computer canread.

Various forms of computer readable media may be involved in carryingsequences of instructions to a processor. For example, sequences ofinstruction (i) may be delivered from RAM to a processor, (ii) may becarried over a wireless transmission medium, and/or (iii) may beformatted according to numerous formats, standards or protocols, such asBluetooth, TDMA, CDMA, 3G.

Where databases are described, it will be understood by one of ordinaryskill in the art that (i) alternative database structures to thosedescribed may be readily employed, (ii) other memory structures besidesdatabases may be readily employed. Any schematic illustrations andaccompanying descriptions of any sample databases presented herein areexemplary arrangements for stored representations of information. Anynumber of other arrangements may be employed besides those suggested bythe tables shown. Similarly, any illustrated entries of the databasesrepresent exemplary information only; those skilled in the art willunderstand that the number and content of the entries can be differentfrom those illustrated herein. Further, despite any depiction of thedatabases as tables, an object-based model could be used to store andmanipulate the data types of the present invention and likewise, objectmethods or behaviors can be used to implement the processes of thepresent invention.

A “computer system” may refer to a system having one or more computers,where each computer may include a computer-readable medium embodyingsoftware to operate the computer or one or more of its components.Examples of a computer system may include: a distributed computer systemfor processing information via computer systems linked by a network; twoor more computer systems connected together via a network fortransmitting and/or receiving information between the computer systems;a computer system including two or more processors within a singlecomputer; and one or more apparatuses and/or one or more systems thatmay accept data, may process data in accordance with one or more storedsoftware programs, may generate results, and typically may includeinput, output, storage, arithmetic, logic, and control units.

A “network” may refer to a number of computers and associated devicesthat may be connected by communication facilities. A network may involvepermanent connections such as cables or temporary connections such asthose made through telephone or other communication links. A network mayfurther include hard-wired connections (e.g., coaxial cable, twistedpair, optical fiber, waveguides, etc.) and/or wireless connections(e.g., radio frequency waveforms, free-space optical waveforms, acousticwaveforms, etc.). Examples of a network may include: an internet, suchas the Internet; an intranet; a local area network (LAN); a wide areanetwork (WAN); and a combination of networks, such as an internet and anintranet.

As used herein, the “client-side” application should be broadlyconstrued to refer to an application, a page associated with thatapplication, or some other resource or function invoked by a client-siderequest to the application. A “browser” as used herein is not intendedto refer to any specific browser (e.g., Internet Explorer, Safari,FireFox, or the like), but should be broadly construed to refer to anyclient-side rendering engine that can access and displayInternet-accessible resources. A “rich” client typically refers to anon-HTTP based client-side application, such as an SSH or CFIS client.Further, while typically the client-server interactions occur usingHTTP, this is not a limitation either. The client server interaction maybe formatted to conform to the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) andtravel over HTTP (over the public Internet), FTP, or any other reliabletransport mechanism (such as IBM® MQSeries® technologies and CORBA, fortransport over an enterprise intranet) may be used. Any application orfunctionality described herein may be implemented as native code, byproviding hooks into another application, by facilitating use of themechanism as a plug-in, by linking to the mechanism, and the like.

Exemplary networks may operate with any of a number of protocols, suchas Internet protocol (IP), asynchronous transfer mode (ATM), and/orsynchronous optical network (SONET), user datagram protocol (UDP), IEEE802.x, etc.

Embodiments of the present invention may include apparatuses forperforming the operations disclosed herein. An apparatus may bespecially constructed for the desired purposes, or it may comprise ageneral-purpose device selectively activated or reconfigured by aprogram stored in the device.

Embodiments of the invention may also be implemented in one or acombination of hardware, firmware, and software. They may be implementedas instructions stored on a machine-readable medium, which may be readand executed by a computing platform to perform the operations describedherein.

More specifically, as will be appreciated by one skilled in the art,aspects of the present invention may be embodied as a system, method orcomputer program product. Accordingly, aspects of the present inventionmay take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, an entirelysoftware embodiment (including firmware, resident software, micro-code,etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardware aspects that mayall generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,” “module” or“system.” Furthermore, aspects of the present invention may take theform of a computer program product embodied in one or more computerreadable medium(s) having computer readable program code embodiedthereon.

In the following description and claims, the terms “computer programmedium” and “computer readable medium” may be used to generally refer tomedia such as, but not limited to, removable storage drives, a hard diskinstalled in hard disk drive, and the like. These computer programproducts may provide software to a computer system. Embodiments of theinvention may be directed to such computer program products.

An algorithm is here, and generally, considered to be a self-consistentsequence of acts or operations leading to a desired result. Theseinclude physical manipulations of physical quantities. Usually, thoughnot necessarily, these quantities take the form of electrical ormagnetic signals capable of being stored, transferred, combined,compared, and otherwise manipulated. It has proven convenient at times,principally for reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals asbits, values, elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers or the like.It should be understood, however, that all of these and similar termsare to be associated with the appropriate physical quantities and aremerely convenient labels applied to these quantities.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, and as may be apparent from thefollowing description and claims, it should be appreciated thatthroughout the specification descriptions utilizing terms such as“processing,” “computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” or the like,refer to the action and/or processes of a computer or computing system,or similar electronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transformdata represented as physical, such as electronic, quantities within thecomputing system's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computing system'smemories, registers or other such information storage, transmission ordisplay devices.

Additionally, the phrase “configured to” or “operable for” can includegeneric structure (e.g., generic circuitry) that is manipulated bysoftware and/or firmware (e.g., an FPGA or a general-purpose processorexecuting software) to operate in a manner that is capable of performingthe task(s) at issue. “Configured to” may also include adapting amanufacturing process (e.g., a semiconductor fabrication facility) tofabricate devices (e.g., integrated circuits) that are adapted toimplement or perform one or more tasks.

In a similar manner, the term “processor” may refer to any device orportion of a device that processes electronic data from registers and/ormemory to transform that electronic data into other electronic data thatmay be stored in registers and/or memory. A “computing platform” maycomprise one or more processors.

Embodiments within the scope of the present disclosure may also includetangible and/or non-transitory computer-readable storage media forcarrying or having computer-executable instructions or data structuresstored thereon. Such non-transitory computer-readable storage media canbe any available media that can be accessed by a general purpose orspecial purpose computer, including the functional design of any specialpurpose processor as discussed above. By way of example, and notlimitation, such non-transitory computer-readable media can include RAM,ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic disk storageor other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be usedto carry or store desired program code means in the form ofcomputer-executable instructions, data structures, or processor chipdesign. When information is transferred or provided over a network oranother communications connection (either hardwired, wireless, orcombination thereof) to a computer, the computer properly views theconnection as a computer-readable medium. Thus, any such connection isproperly termed a computer-readable medium. Combinations of the aboveshould also be included within the scope of the computer-readable media.

While a non-transitory computer readable medium includes, but is notlimited to, a hard drive, compact disc, flash memory, volatile memory,random access memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, semiconductorbased memory, phase change memory, optical memory, periodicallyrefreshed memory, and the like; the non-transitory computer readablemedium, however, does not include a pure transitory signal per se; i.e.,where the medium itself is transitory.

An embodiment of the present invention may provide an improved mobilead, where an ad may generate cash for users willing to view them. Insome embodiments of the present invention, an improved mobile ad appsoftware may be provided on a mobile phone device to implement theimproved mobile ad. In further embodiments of the present invention, asystem and method may be provided to implement the improved mobile ad.An improved mobile ad app may offer a user points/credits which may beconverted into cash. Users may receive cash for engaging in ads, makingpurchases from offers, and completing special offers. Points or creditsearned by users may be converted to cash directly into their PayPalaccounts. The user may have the option to receive gift card, play storecredit, coupons, music downloads, and in some cases free data. These adsmay be presented to a user on a lock screen to relatively improve thespeed of the process. Users may only see ads when the ads are selectedfor viewing. Ads may not be intrusive and does not show up withoutchoosing to view the ads. A user may be able to call the ads from ahovering button from any app to give the user the flexibility to usesuch services at any time. Placing ads on a lock screen of a mobiledevice may further incentivize a user to watch an ad by saving timeoverall in an ad watching event. To assist with saving data the user mayreceive offers with just audio with a pop up notification to give theuser a chance to interact with the offer. An improved mobile ad may alsooffer a user to only have an ad viewed when a user is connected toWi-Fi, therefore saving users possibly valuable data usage. The user maychoose to view an ad by clicking on the call button at a predeterminedtime when user wants to receive the offers whether it be on cellulardata or Wi-Fi connection giving the user the flexibility to access offerfrom any connections that the user chose. Therefore, these improvedmobile ads may provide un-intrusive ads to users who may be morecompelled to view ads partly due to monetary payments and efficiency andfor phone processing data-wise. Besides providing the user with anoption to receive money as a payout, user coupons and gift card of equalvalue may be offered. Points or credits earned may be converted to cashand may be deposited into an online service that enable users to pay,send money, and accept payments such as but not limited to PayPalservice. Points or credits may be redeemed by the users using theironline accounts, providing security and an immediate cash out option.

An exemplary improved mobile ad app software may provide furtheroptional features such as offering a user an opportunity to watch an adat a later more convenient time. The mobile ad app does not interferewith the functionality of the device, the user may be able to open anyother app and use the device like any other device or choose to view adsat any moment selected. Furthermore, an improved mobile ad app mayprovide a user with an option to watch an ad after they use a next appthey use or in a certain amount of time. Furthermore still, an improvedmobile ad app may provide security to ensure there may be no fraudulentengagement. The mobile ad app may track the device to determine that theuser is not trying to steal points. The mobile ad app may determine theIMEI code on the mobile device, compare the IMEI to stored authorizedIMEIs (i.e. CellAllure™ mobile devices) to ensure authorized mobiledevice is using the mobile ad app. For example, a CellAllure™ mobiledevice is running the mobile ad app. The IMEI is a unique numberidentifying a mobile device. The IMEI of the mobile phone device and thecorresponding mobile ad app is tracked to determine there may only beone mobile ad app per authorized mobile device. Authorized IMEIs (i.e.CellAllure™ mobile devices) may be stored in a mass storage memory ordatabase to be used for, but not limited to, tracking and/or comparison.Additionally, user behavior, completed ads and received offers may betracked to further determined fraudulent activities. Ability to use thead app may be prevented if unusual activity is detected with the app onthe device. Furthermore still, an improved mobile ad app may provide adbuttons on a lock screen which may be un-obstructive. Furthermore still,an improved mobile ad app may provide viewing on-demand so a user maynot be forced to use their mobile data plan and they can wait until theyconnect to Wi-Fi. Ads may be viewed via Wi-Fi only, which may notconsume users' data plans. The user may choose to click and receiveoffers at the predetermined time to receive offers. Furthermore still,an improved mobile ad app may be used on mobile devices but also ondevices including but not limited to smart phones, mobile phones, smarttv's, vehicles, desktop computers, etc. The application maybe installedon any android powered device including but not limited to a cell phone,a Chromebook™, a tablet, smart home devices, and android auto enablecars. Furthermore still, an improved mobile ad app may provide a userwith offer for points/cash directly from a lock screen. Promotions maybe provided to active users and allow active users to exchange theirpoints for card, play store credit, coupons, and music downloads.

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary lock screen of the mobile ad app, wherean improved mobile ad may appear, in accordance with an embodiment ofthe present invention. The first thing that shows up when the device ispowered up or awakes is a lock screen. A lock screen 100 may be providedwhere a user may be given options to view an ad for points/money, havingthis choice at a lock screen may make it relatively faster for a user.The center of the lock screen may display the points/credits a user hasearned or accumulated so that users may always know the number of pointsthey have earned.

A set of lock screen menu items 105 represented with buttons and iconsmay include but is not limited to a “make a call” button with a phoneicon, an “unlock phone” button to unlock a phone, an improved mobile ad“settings” button with gear icon, an “offer wall” button with a squareicon, an “interstitial ads” button with an arrow icon, a “video ads”button with an arrow pointing down icon, and a “cell allure app” buttonwhich may take you to an app store. Other buttons may include newsfeed,and shortcut buttons for the user's favorite apps or other apps includedon the lock screen. The “make a call” button provides users with ashortcut to go straight to the dialer to perform a call. This mayprovide a non-intrusive viewing of ads and may create a friendlyenvironment, as well as being cost efficient by not wasting valuabledata because ads may be chosen to be viewed only when the mobile deviceis connected to a free Wi-Fi. An exemplary CellAllure™ marketplace appor mobile ad app may be pre-installed on a CellAllure™ mobile device andbased on an Android Market© setup. If a user selects the interstitialad, the system may check to see if the user has an account with mobilead app. If the user does not have an account it may prompt the user tocreate an account. After the account is created and the accountinformation is checked the mobile ad app may then send out a call to anad network such as IronSource™. IronSource™ may then provide the userwith an interactive ad that the user may end at any time. Once the adends the user may be rewarded with redeemable points. If a user selectsan offer wall, then in an exemplary embodiment when the user clicks onan offer wall the improved ad module may connect to an ad network or avideo distribution provider such as but not limited to IronSource©.Ironsource© is a mediation platform that is also an ad network.IronSource then gives the user options that may help them earnredeemable points. These offers include getting to certain levels ingames or performing task within other apps that when completed the userwill receive the points. There are other ad networks that the improvedad module may connect to such as but not limited to Unity©, Chartboot©,Tapjoy©, Apploving©, HyperMX©, NativeX©, Adcolony©, etc. These sourcesmay give users options that may help them earn redeemablepoints/credits. These offers may include getting to certain levels ingames or performing task within other apps that when completed a usermay receive points/credits. On the offer wall, hundreds of offers may beprovided. When the offer wall is activated the system will make a callto IronSource. IronSource then gives the user options that can help themearn redeemable point. These offers include getting to certain levels ingames or performing a task within other apps that when completed theuser will receive the points. When the video ads button is activated,the system will check to see if the user has an account with the mobilead app. If the user does not have an account it will prompt the user tocreate an account. After the account information is checked theapplication will then send out a call to IronSource. IronSource thenprovides the video ad to the mobile device. The ad begins to play on themobile device. Once the ad ends, the user then received points that theycan redeem. In an exemplary embodiment a user may need to enter accountinformation or register for an account or authorize using inputincluding but not limited to fingerprints, face recognition, or swipeshape input and all other android available security measures.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary process, in accordancewith an embodiment of the invention. Each button that is configured forcalling an ad network may have an on-off switch to make call and tocancel a call. In a Step 205 a user may unlock their mobile devicescreen. In reference to FIG. 1 an unlock screen menu area 100 may havebuttons/icons 105 which may provide various services. In a Step 210 auser may then be given a choice to select a common phone service (makingphone calls, making emergency calls, activating installed applications,etc.) or to select among ad related options. If a user selects a commonphone service/application then in Step 213 a user may be sent to theappropriate application. If a user selects an ad related option, then ina Step 215 a user may be asked to sign in or register or authenticate.In a Step 220 if a user selects Cell Allure App, an app store or marketplace may be opened such as but not limited to a Google Market©, androidmarket, etc. In a Step 225, if a user selects a video ad, then a usermay view ads for points or credits. In a Step 230 if a user selects aninterstitial ad, a user may watch ads for points/credits. In referenceto FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, in a Step 235 if a user selects an offer wall, auser may redeem points or consider offers as detailed in the descriptionto FIG. 1. In a Step 240 a user may after their choices play out bebrought to a home screen or a mobile device may be relocked.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a software system modulesdiagram, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.Various modules may collect diverse data and may use the data topersonalize the offers. An improved Mobile ad module 305 may control anoverall processing and interfacing with various other modules includingbut not limited to those shown in FIG. 3. An Unlocking module 310 may beused to process waking up a mobile device. When an Unlocking module 310starts, it may interface with an Ad menu module 315. An Ad menu module315 may process interfacing graphics, show a user options for ad relatedservices, and process a user's various selections. A Points processingmodule 320 may be used to keep track of a user's specific current totalsand points related processing in general. An Authentication module 325may ensure related security is applied to an improved mobile ad process.For security and to prevent fraud, the authentication module may verifyif the IMEI of a mobile device matchesat least one authorized IMEIstored in a database (i.e. a CellAllure™ device). An Ad personalizationmodule 330 may use a user's history and or user data analysis, includingbut not limited to learning based analysis, to personalize a user's ads.Data usage may be collected. The ad personalization module 330 may lookfor a pattern and determine user offers that would be preferred. AnIronSource© module 335 may interface with a Mobile ad module 305, andmay provide app monetization services including but not limited toprocessing redeemable points, providing video, offering a user furtheroptions. Iron Source© is the mediation platform There are other adnetworks that may be used to offer videos, ads, banners, surveys, etc.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary client/server systemwhich may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment ofthe present invention.

A communication system 400 includes a multiplicity of clients with asampling of clients denoted as a client 402 and a client 404, amultiplicity of local networks with a sampling of networks denoted as alocal network 406 and a local network 408, a global network 410 and amultiplicity of servers with a sampling of servers denoted as a server412 and a server 414.

Client 402 may communicate bi-directionally with local network 406 via acommunication channel 416. Client 404 may communicate bi-directionallywith local network 408 via a communication channel 418. Local network406 may communicate bi-directionally with global network 410 via acommunication channel 420. Local network 408 may communicatebi-directionally with global network 410 via a communication channel422. Global network 410 may communicate bi-directionally with server 412and server 414 via a communication channel 424. Server 412 and server414 may communicate bi-directionally with each other via communicationchannel 424. Furthermore, clients 402, 404, local networks 406, 408,global network 410 and servers 412, 414 may each communicatebi-directionally with each other.

In one embodiment, global network 410 may operate as the Internet. Itwill be understood by those skilled in the art that communication system400 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examples of forms forcommunication system 400 include local area networks (LANs), wide areanetworks (WANs), wired telephone networks, wireless networks, or anyother network supporting data communication between respective entities.

Clients 402 and 404 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examplesof clients 402 and 404 include personal computers, personal digitalassistants (PDAs), cellular phones and smartphones.

Client 402 includes a CPU 426, a pointing device 428, a keyboard 430, amicrophone 432, a printer 434, a computer readable storage medium/memory436, a mass computer readable storage medium/memory storage 438, adisplay screen/GUI 440, a video camera 442, an input/output interface444 and a network interface 446. The display screen 440 may include, butnot limited, to a touch sensitive display screen running the graphicaluser interface (GUI).

CPU 426, pointing device 428, keyboard 430, microphone 432, printer 434,memory 436, mass memory storage 438, GUI 440, video camera 442,input/output interface 444 and network interface 446 may communicate ina unidirectional manner or a bi-directional manner with each other via acommunication channel 448. Communication channel 448 may be configuredas a single communication channel or a multiplicity of communicationchannels.

CPU 426 may be comprised of a single processor or multiple processors.CPU 426 may be of various types including micro-controllers (e.g., withembedded RAM/ROM) and microprocessors such as programmable devices(e.g., RISC or SISC based, or CPLDs and FPGAs) and devices not capableof being programmed such as gate array ASICs (Application SpecificIntegrated Circuits) or general purpose microprocessors.

As is well known in the art, memory 436 is used typically to transferdata and instructions to CPU 426 in a bi-directional manner. Memory 436,as discussed previously, may include any suitable computer-readablemedia, intended for data storage, such as those described aboveexcluding any wired or wireless transmissions unless specifically noted.Mass memory storage 438 may also be coupled bi-directionally to CPU 426and provides additional data storage capacity and may include any of thecomputer-readable media described above. Mass memory storage 438 may beused to store programs, data and the like and is typically a secondarystorage medium such as a hard disk. It will be appreciated that theinformation retained within mass memory storage 438, may, in appropriatecases, be incorporated in standard fashion as part of memory 436 asvirtual memory.

CPU 426 may be coupled to GUI 440. GUI 440 enables a user to view theoperation of computer operating system and software. CPU 426 may becoupled to pointing device 428. Non-limiting examples of pointing device428 include computer mouse, trackball and touchpad. Pointing device 428enables a user with the capability to maneuver a computer cursor aboutthe viewing area of GUI 440 and select areas or features in the viewingarea of GUI 440. CPU 426 may be coupled to keyboard 430. Keyboard 430enables a user with the capability to input alphanumeric textualinformation to CPU 426. CPU 426 may be coupled to microphone 432.Microphone 432 enables audio produced by a user to be recorded,processed and communicated by CPU 426. CPU 426 may be connected toprinter 434. Printer 434 enables a user with the capability to printinformation to a sheet of paper. CPU 426 may be connected to videocamera 442. Video camera 442 enables video produced or captured by userto be recorded, processed and communicated by CPU 426.

CPU 426 may also be coupled to input/output interface 444 that connectsto one or more input/output devices such as such as CD-ROM, videomonitors, track balls, mice, keyboards, microphones, touch-sensitivedisplays, transducer card readers, magnetic or paper tape readers,tablets, styluses, voice or handwriting recognizers, or other well-knowninput devices such as, of course, other computers.

Finally, CPU 426 optionally may be coupled to network interface 446which enables communication with an external device such as a databaseor a computer or telecommunications or internet network using anexternal connection shown generally as communication channel 416, whichmay be implemented as a hardwired or wireless communications link usingsuitable conventional technologies. With such a connection, CPU 426might receive information from the network, or might output informationto a network in the course of performing the method steps described inthe teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a block diagram depicting a conventionalclient/server communication system, which may be used by an exemplaryweb-enabled/networked embodiment of the present invention.

A communication system 500 includes a multiplicity of networked regionswith a sampling of regions denoted as a network region 502 and a networkregion 504, a global network 506 and a multiplicity of servers with asampling of servers denoted as a server device 508 and a server device510.

Network region 502 and network region 504 may operate to represent anetwork contained within a geographical area or region. Non-limitingexamples of representations for the geographical areas for the networkedregions may include postal zip codes, telephone area codes, states,counties, cities and countries. Elements within network region 502 and504 may operate to communicate with external elements within othernetworked regions or within elements contained within the same networkregion.

In some implementations, global network 506 may operate as the Internet.It will be understood by those skilled in the art that communicationsystem 500 may take many different forms. Non-limiting examples of formsfor communication system 500 include local area networks (LANs), widearea networks (WANs), wired telephone networks, cellular telephonenetworks or any other network supporting data communication betweenrespective entities via hardwired or wireless communication networks.Global network 506 may operate to transfer information between thevarious networked elements.

Server device 508 and server device 510 may operate to execute softwareinstructions, store information, support database operations andcommunicate with other networked elements. Non-limiting examples ofsoftware and scripting languages which may be executed on server device508 and server device 510 include C, C++, C # and Java.

Network region 502 may operate to communicate bi-directionally withglobal network 506 via a communication channel 512. Network region 504may operate to communicate bi-directionally with global network 506 viaa communication channel 514. Server device 508 may operate tocommunicate bi-directionally with global network 506 via a communicationchannel 516. Server device 510 may operate to communicatebi-directionally with global network 506 via a communication channel518. Network region 502 and 504, global network 506 and server devices508 and 510 may operate to communicate with each other and with everyother networked device located within communication system 500.

Server device 508 includes a networking device 520 and a server 522.Networking device 520 may operate to communicate bi-directionally withglobal network 506 via communication channel 516 and with server 522 viaa communication channel 524. Server 522 may operate to execute softwareinstructions and store information.

Network region 502 includes a multiplicity of clients with a samplingdenoted as a client 526 and a client 528. Client 526 includes anetworking device 534, a processor 536, a GUI 538 and an interfacedevice 540. Non-limiting examples of devices for GUI 538 includemonitors, televisions, cellular telephones, smartphones and PDAs(Personal Digital Assistants). Non-limiting examples of interface device540 include pointing device, mouse, trackball, scanner and printer.Networking device 534 may communicate bi-directionally with globalnetwork 506 via communication channel 512 and with processor 536 via acommunication channel 542. GUI 538 may receive information fromprocessor 536 via a communication channel 544 for presentation to a userfor viewing. Interface device 540 may operate to send controlinformation to processor 536 and to receive information from processor536 via a communication channel 546. Network region 504 includes amultiplicity of clients with a sampling denoted as a client 530 and aclient 532. Client 530 includes a networking device 548, a processor550, a GUI 552 and an interface device 554. Non-limiting examples ofdevices for GUI 538 include monitors, televisions, cellular telephones,smartphones and PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants). Non-limitingexamples of interface device 540 include pointing devices, mousse,trackballs, scanners and printers. Networking device 548 may communicatebi-directionally with global network 506 via communication channel 514and with processor 550 via a communication channel 556. GUI 552 mayreceive information from processor 550 via a communication channel 558for presentation to a user for viewing. Interface device 554 may operateto send control information to processor 550 and to receive informationfrom processor 550 via a communication channel 560.

For example, consider the case where a user interfacing with client 526may want to execute a networked application. A user may enter the IP(Internet Protocol) address for the networked application usinginterface device 540. The IP address information may be communicated toprocessor 536 via communication channel 546. Processor 536 may thencommunicate the IP address information to networking device 534 viacommunication channel 542. Networking device 534 may then communicatethe IP address information to global network 506 via communicationchannel 512. Global network 506 may then communicate the IP addressinformation to networking device 520 of server device 508 viacommunication channel 516. Networking device 520 may then communicatethe IP address information to server 522 via communication channel 524.Server 522 may receive the IP address information and after processingthe IP address information may communicate return information tonetworking device 520 via communication channel 524. Networking device520 may communicate the return information to global network 506 viacommunication channel 516. Global network 506 may communicate the returninformation to networking device 534 via communication channel 512.Networking device 534 may communicate the return information toprocessor 536 via communication channel 542. Processor 576 maycommunicate the return information to GUI 578 via communication channel544. User may then view the return information on GUI 538.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate exemplary GUIs during mobile ad relatedprocessing, where 6A shows lock screen interfacing, 6B shows settingsmenu interfacing, in accordance with an embodiment of the presentinvention. A user may interface with a mobile device Lock screen 605,which may contain standard phone function options with improved mobilead related options. A user may interface with a mobile device Phone appscreen 610, which may contain phone call related information. A user mayinterface with a mobile device Home screen 615 once unlocked. A user mayinterface with a mobile device Cell allure apps screen 620, which maycontain a Google Market© type setup. A user may interface with a mobiledevice ad screen 625, which may show ads. A user may interface with amobile device offer wall screen 630, which may interface for earnedcredit related processing. In FIG. 6B a user may interface with a mobiledevice settings screen 635, which may contain several mobile ad relatedsettings/controls 640 including but not limited to friend invitecontrols, cashing out, lock screen controls, and account settings.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram depicting an exemplary system and networkwhich may be used by an exemplary web-enabled/networked embodiment ofthe present invention. A mobile terminal 705 may contain a module 710for processing an improved mobile ad. A mobile terminal 705 may connectthrough a network 715 to a remote Mobile ad server 720 may provide nonuser ad processing, and an accompanying Mobile ad database 725 maycontain or store non user related data.

Those skilled in the art will readily recognize, in light of and inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, that any of theforegoing steps and/or system modules may be suitably replaced,reordered, removed and additional steps and/or system modules may beinserted depending upon the needs of the particular application, andthat the systems of the foregoing embodiments may be implemented usingany of a wide variety of suitable processes and system modules, and isnot limited to any particular computer hardware, software, middleware,firmware, microcode and the like. For any method steps described in thepresent application that can be carried out on a computing machine, atypical computer system can, when appropriately configured or designed,serve as a computer system in which those aspects of the invention maybe embodied.

It will be further apparent to those skilled in the art that at least aportion of the novel method steps and/or system components of thepresent invention may be practiced and/or located in location(s)possibly outside the jurisdiction of the United States of America (USA),whereby it will be accordingly readily recognized that at least a subsetof the novel method steps and/or system components in the foregoingembodiments must be practiced within the jurisdiction of the USA for thebenefit of an entity therein or to achieve an object of the presentinvention. Thus, some alternate embodiments of the present invention maybe configured to comprise a smaller subset of the foregoing means forand/or steps described that the applications designer will selectivelydecide, depending upon the practical considerations of the particularimplementation, to carry out and/or locate within the jurisdiction ofthe USA. For example, any of the foregoing described method steps and/orsystem components which may be performed remotely over a network (e.g.,without limitation, a remotely located server) may be performed and/orlocated outside of the jurisdiction of the USA while the remainingmethod steps and/or system components (e.g., without limitation, alocally located client) of the forgoing embodiments are typicallyrequired to be located/performed in the USA for practicalconsiderations. In client-server architectures, a remotely locatedserver typically generates and transmits required information to a USbased client, for use according to the teachings of the presentinvention. Depending upon the needs of the particular application, itwill be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, in light of theteachings of the present invention, which aspects of the presentinvention can or should be located locally and which can or should belocated remotely. Thus, for any claims construction of the followingclaim limitations that are construed under 35 USC § 112 (6) it isintended that the corresponding means for and/or steps for carrying outthe claimed function are the ones that are locally implemented withinthe jurisdiction of the USA, while the remaining aspect(s) performed orlocated remotely outside the USA are not intended to be construed under35 USC § 112 (6).

It is noted that according to USA law, all claims must be set forth as acoherent, cooperating set of limitations that work in functionalcombination to achieve a useful result as a whole. Accordingly, for anyclaim having functional limitations interpreted under 35 USC § 112 (6)where the embodiment in question is implemented as a client-serversystem with a remote server located outside of the USA, each suchrecited function is intended to mean the function of combining, in alogical manner, the information of that claim limitation with at leastone other limitation of the claim. For example, in client-server systemswhere certain information claimed under 35 USC § 112 (6) is/(are)dependent on one or more remote servers located outside the USA, it isintended that each such recited function under 35 USC § 112 (6) is to beinterpreted as the function of the local system receiving the remotelygenerated information required by a locally implemented claimlimitation, wherein the structures and or steps which enable, and breathlife into the expression of such functions claimed under 35 USC § 112(6) are the corresponding steps and/or means located within thejurisdiction of the USA that receive and deliver that information to theclient (e.g., without limitation, client-side processing andtransmission networks in the USA). When this application is prosecutedor patented under a jurisdiction other than the USA, then “USA” in theforegoing should be replaced with the pertinent country or countries orlegal organization(s) having enforceable patent infringementjurisdiction over the present application, and “35 USC § 112 (6)” shouldbe replaced with the closest corresponding statute in the patent laws ofsuch pertinent country or countries or legal organization(s).

All the features disclosed in this specification, including anyaccompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternativefeatures serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unlessexpressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise,each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series ofequivalent or similar features.

It is noted that according to USA law 35 USC § 112 (1), all claims mustbe supported by sufficient disclosure in the present patentspecification, and any material known to those skilled in the art neednot be explicitly disclosed. However, 35 USC § 112 (6) requires thatstructures corresponding to functional limitations interpreted under 35USC § 112 (6) must be explicitly disclosed in the patent specification.Moreover, the USPTO's Examination policy of initially treating andsearching prior art under the broadest interpretation of a “mean for” or“steps for” claim limitation implies that the broadest initial search on35 USC § 112(6) (post AIA 112(f)) functional limitation would have to beconducted to support a legally valid Examination on that USPTO policyfor broadest interpretation of “mean for” claims. Accordingly, the USPTOwill have discovered a multiplicity of prior art documents includingdisclosure of specific structures and elements which are suitable to actas corresponding structures to satisfy all functional limitations in thebelow claims that are interpreted under 35 USC § 112(6) (post AIA112(f)) when such corresponding structures are not explicitly disclosedin the foregoing patent specification. Therefore, for any inventionelement(s)/structure(s) corresponding to functional claim limitation(s),in the below claims interpreted under 35 USC § 112(6) (post AIA 112(f)),which is/are not explicitly disclosed in the foregoing patentspecification, yet do exist in the patent and/or non-patent documentsfound during the course of USPTO searching, Applicant(s) incorporate allsuch functionally corresponding structures and related enabling materialherein by reference for the purpose of providing explicit structuresthat implement the functional means claimed. Applicant(s) request(s)that fact finders during any claims construction proceedings and/orexamination of patent allowability properly identify and incorporateonly the portions of each of these documents discovered during thebroadest interpretation search of 35 USC § 112(6) (post AIA 112(f))limitation, which exist in at least one of the patent and/or non-patentdocuments found during the course of normal USPTO searching and orsupplied to the USPTO during prosecution. Applicant(s) also incorporateby reference the bibliographic citation information to identify all suchdocuments comprising functionally corresponding structures and relatedenabling material as listed in any PTO Form-892 or likewise anyinformation disclosure statements (IDS) entered into the present patentapplication by the USPTO or Applicant(s) or any 3^(rd) parties.Applicant(s) also reserve its right to later amend the presentapplication to explicitly include citations to such documents and/orexplicitly include the functionally corresponding structures which wereincorporate by reference above.

Thus, for any invention element(s)/structure(s) corresponding tofunctional claim limitation(s), in the below claims, that areinterpreted under 35 USC § 112(6) (post AIA 112(f)), which is/are notexplicitly disclosed in the foregoing patent specification, Applicant(s)have explicitly prescribed which documents and material to include theotherwise missing disclosure, and have prescribed exactly which portionsof such patent and/or non-patent documents should be incorporated bysuch reference for the purpose of satisfying the disclosure requirementsof 35 USC § 112 (6). Applicant(s) note that all the identified documentsabove which are incorporated by reference to satisfy 35 USC § 112 (6)necessarily have a filing and/or publication date prior to that of theinstant application, and thus are valid prior documents to incorporatedby reference in the instant application.

Having fully described at least one embodiment of the present invention,other equivalent or alternative methods of implementing advertisingaccording to the present invention will be apparent to those skilled inthe art. Various aspects of the invention have been described above byway of illustration, and the specific embodiments disclosed are notintended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed. Theparticular implementation of the advertising may vary depending upon theparticular context or application. By way of example, and notlimitation, the advertising described in the foregoing were principallydirected to advertising on mobile devices implementations; however,similar techniques may instead be applied to viewing advertising on anydevice in any location, incentivizing users to take polls or surveys,which implementations of the present invention are contemplated aswithin the scope of the present invention. The invention is thus tocover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling withinthe spirit and scope of the following claims. It is to be furtherunderstood that not all of the disclosed embodiments in the foregoingspecification will necessarily satisfy or achieve each of the objects,advantages, or improvements described in the foregoing specification.

Claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or letteredsolely as an aid in readability and understanding. Any such numberingand lettering in itself is not intended to and should not be taken toindicate the ordering of elements and/or steps in the claims.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed.

The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of allmeans or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended toinclude any structure, material, or act for performing the function incombination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. Thedescription of the present invention has been presented for purposes ofillustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive orlimited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications andvariations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the artwithout departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Theembodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain theprinciples of the invention and the practical application, and to enableothers of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention forvarious embodiments with various modifications as are suited to theparticular use contemplated.

The Abstract is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. Section 1.72(b)requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to ascertain the natureand gist of the technical disclosure. That is, the Abstract is providedmerely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify any key oressential features of the claimed subject matter. It is submitted withthe understanding that it will not be used to limit or interpret thescope or meaning of the claims.

The following claims are hereby incorporated into the detaileddescription, with each claim standing on its own as a separateembodiment.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: providing a mobile devicewith a display, a CPU, and at least one or more memory; initiating, withan unlocking module, a powering-up or a waking-up of said mobile device;actuating, with an ad menu module, a graphical user interface, a lockscreen and a list of menu items following said powering-up or awaking-up of said mobile device; presenting, at said lock screen, saidlist of menu items; displaying, at said lock screen, a number of pointsor credits earned by a user of said mobile device; initiating, at saidlock screen, an option to view an ad for at least one of, points,credits, and money; providing, at said lock screen, a set of menu items;said set of menu items comprise of: a make a call button with a phoneicon, wherein said make a call button is configured to make a phone callto another person; an unlock phone button that is configured to unlocksaid mobile device lock screen when selected; an offer wall button,wherein selecting said offer wall button connects said mobile device toa video distribution provider when selected; and an interstitial adsbutton, in which a selection of said interstitial ads button initiatessaid ad network to activate interactive ads, wherein a user is rewardedwith credits after viewing the interactive ads.
 2. The method of claim1, further comprising determining if said mobile device is connected toa facility allowing said mobile device to connect to an internet orcommunicate with other devices wirelessly within a particular area. 3.The method of claim 2, further comprising viewing, at said lock screen,an ad for points or credits that is convertible into cash if said mobiledevice is determined to be connected to the internet.
 4. The method ofclaim 2, further comprising determining a unique identifying number ofsaid mobile device.
 5. The method of claim 4, further comprisingdeducing whether said provided mobile device is running said mobiledevice app.
 6. The method of claim 5, said set of lock screen menu itemsfurther comprise of at least a video ads button, wherein activating saidvideo ads button enables a user to view ads for points or credits. 7.The method of claim 6, said set of lock screen menu items furthercomprise of at least a Cell Allure app button, wherein said Cell Allureapp button is configured to connect to an app store upon activation. 8.The method of claim 7, said set of lock screen menu items furthercomprise of a settings button.
 9. The method of claim 8, in which eachbutton that calls or connects to the ad network includes an on-offswitch that is configured to make a call or connection and to cancel acall or connection.
 10. The method of claim 9, further comprisingunlocking said lock screen when selected followed with presenting a homescreen of said mobile device.
 11. The method of claim 10, furthercomprising presenting, at said home screen, at least one of, a pluralityof mobile phone services and ad related selections.
 12. The method ofclaim 11, in which said plurality of mobile phone service comprises atleast one of, making a phone call, making an emergency call, andactivating an installed application.
 13. The method of claim 1, in whichsaid mobile device is into engagement with a server network that isconfigured to call or connect to a mobile ad server.
 14. The method ofclaim 13, in which said mobile ad server is configured to provide anon-user ad processing, and wherein said mobile ad server is intoengagement with a mobile ad database that is configured to storenon-user related data.
 15. The method of claim 14, in which said menuitems further comprise of a settings button with a gear-shaped button,when said settings button is selected, presenting a mobile settings homescreen, in which said mobile settings home screen comprises at least oneof, a friend invite pop-up screen, a cash out screen, a lock screencontrol screen, and an account setting screen.
 16. A system comprising:a mobile phone device with a display, a CPU, and a computer readablestorage medium; a mobile app, in which said mobile app comprises anunlocking module, an ad menu module, and point processing module storedin said computer readable storage medium, wherein said mobile appincludes instructions which when executed by said mobile phone device,cause the mobile phone device to: process a waking up or powering up ofsaid mobile device by said unlocking module; keep track of a user'spoint total by said point processing module; and process a graphic userinterface to present a set of menu items in a lock screen by said admenu module; means for determining if said mobile device is connected toa facility allowing said mobile phone device to connect to an internetor communicate with other devices wirelessly within a particular area; amobile ad server, wherein said mobile ad server is configured to providenon-user ad processing; a server network, wherein said server network isconfigured to connect said mobile phone device to said mobile ad server;and means for preventing fraud in said mobile phone device.
 17. Thesystem of claim 16, in which said set of menu items comprises: means formaking a call to an ad network when selected; means for unlocking saidmobile phone device lock screen when selected; means for connecting saidmobile device to a video distribution provider when selected; means forinitiating said ad network to activate interactive ads when selected,wherein credits are rewarded after the interactive ads are viewed; meansfor enabling a user to view ads for points or credits when selected; andmeans for connecting to an app store upon activation when selected. 18.A mobile app having one or more program modules stored in a computerreadable storage medium, the one or more program modules comprisinginstructions, which when executed by a mobile device with a display,cause the mobile device to: provide on said display a lock screen;present on said lock screen a set of menu items, said set of menu itemscomprises: a make a call button, wherein said make a call button isconfigured to make a phone call to an ad network upon activation; anunlock phone button that is configured to unlock locked screen whenselected; an offer wall button, wherein selecting said offer wall buttonconnects said mobile device to a video distribution provider whenselected; and an interstitial ads button, in which a selection of saidinterstitial ads button initiates said ad network to activateinteractive ads, wherein a user is rewarded with credits after viewingthe interactive ads; determine if said mobile device is connected to aWiFi; and allow said mobile device to make a call, connect, orcommunicate to said ad network if said mobile device is determined to beconnected to the WiFi.
 19. The mobile app of claim 18, further includinginstructions to cause the mobile device to: determine a uniqueidentifying number of said mobile device; and compare said uniqueidentifying number to stored authorized unique identifying numbers todetermine if said software program is running on an authorized mobiledevice.
 20. The mobile app of claim 19, in which each button that callsor connects to the ad network comprises an on-off switch that isconfigured to make said call, connection or communication and to cancelsaid call, connection or communication.